The FUTURE of Waltham
As for the Future...
In addition to the day to day responsibilities of running a major city, I would like to complete some projects and start some others:
Waltham High School – Construction or renovation
School Space Issues – Resolved from the school level up
Rail Trail – Construct whole trail
128 Global Traffic Plan and Master Plan – Data gathering completed, public hearing next, then implementation
Fernald School – Community plan including swimming, skating pond, sledding hill
Combined Police/Fire Station at Lexington Street (requested by City Council after police station design substantially completed
Implement Feasibility Study done by Mayor McCarthy for Moody Street fire station
Flood Mitigation – Phase II, Beaverbrook at Linden/Massasoit
Neighborhood Parks – Graverson, Elsie Turner, Gilmore, Drake, Hillcroft
4-Season Trails at Mackerel Hill and Met State
DEP-Mandated Sewer Work for each neighborhood, then paving of those neighborhood streets and sidewalks
Paving of Main Streets and sidewalks, once water/sewer/National Grid/NStar finish their upgrades
Reuse of Nuttings on the Charles
...and still keep services high and taxes reasonable!!!
TRAFFIC
• The Mayor has to go before Traffic Commission on traffic issues. Sometimes her requests are granted. Sometimes not.
• Traffic engineer is hired by Traffic Commission and confirmed by City Council.
• Although the Traffic Engineer is not hired by nor works for the Mayor, the Mayor works with Engineer and Commission on projects: Global Traffic Plan for 128, Master Traffic Plan; Traffic Signals for Forest/Trapelo; Smith/Trapelo; Beaver/ Forest (state $); Newton/Main; Highland/South; Graverson and Stanley School Lights; Winter Street Bridge (supervision) and Walnut & Spruce Parking Lots - construction completed.
• In the past when projects were not getting done, the Mayor intervened via the budget and the Traffic Commission got someone to get them done!
CAPITAL PROJECTS
New Schools
• Fixed Stanley, McDevitt, Northeast
• Finished Kennedy, MacArthur, Plympton
• Started and Finished Whittemore and Fitzgerald
Common Improvements
• Veterans Circle of Remembrance
• Dot Hill Gazebo • Gardens
Downtown Improvements
• Moody and Main Street lights, sidewalks, trees, benches, barrels, Carter Street Depot
• Downtown Partnership - fund with Fed $ its Storefront improvement program
Housing
• Hardy School 19 apts. for seniors no vacancy
• Banks School 7 units in sales process
Roads
• Miles paved, 13 Roads reconstructed
• Water - 31 Streets water lines replaced
Drain
neighborhood and city projects done
• Sewer - 6 main sewer lines, plus neighborhoods in Warrendale, Rangely Acres, Cedarwood, West End, and part of Lakeview done
Energy
• Renegotiated waste disposal site contract saved $1.2 million, purchased energy efficient vehicles and lights, formed Energy Committee. Waltham does not have “as of right zoning” for energy
• Payments by nonprofits and businesses, $1.87 million.
Fire
• $4.82 million for renovations, new safety equipment, gear, trucks (5), ladder (1), communications equipment.
Police
• $3.89 million for renovations, new vehicles, protective equipment and communications equipment.